Robert Boyle and the machine metaphor

2025-01-07 Classification：Religion Click()
Author：Ruse, M

Article Title：Robert Boyle and the machine metaphor

Abstract：
The seventeenth- century chemist and philosopher Robert Boyle argued that the world is like a clockwork machine. This led to the problems of the place of a Creator and of how one can explain the directed, final-cause nature of organisms. Boyle thought that he could wrap everything up in one neat package, with a clear place for a designing God, but of course the coming of Darwinism casts doubt on this. Nevertheless, Boyle's thinking does have some very interesting implications for the way in which we today should consider the science/religion relationship.

Keywords: Aristotle; Robert Boyle; final cause; machine metaphor; natural theology

DOI: 10.1111/1467-9744.00438

Source：ZYGON
 

Welcome to correct the error, please contact email: humanisticspider@gmail.com

Related Reading

Gender selection: Cultural and religious perspectivesGender selection: Cultural and religious perspectives
Lying with man as with woman: Rethinking the impact of religious discourse on gay community strengthLying with man as with woman: Rethinking the impact of religious discourse on gay community strength
Burnt animal sacrifice at the Mycenaean 'Palace of Nestor', PylosBurnt animal sacrifice at the Mycenaean 'Palace of Nestor', Pylos
Judaism, brain plasticity and the making of the selfJudaism, brain plasticity and the making of the self